<![CDATA[The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is reshaping skill demand in the labor market and creating uncertainty for young people in the education to work transition, particularly in secondary cities of emerging economies. This study examines the associations of digital literacy and adaptive skills with perceived employability through an innovative mindset. An explanatory quantitative survey was conducted with 300 young people in Jambi City, Indonesia, and the data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that digital literacy and adaptive skills are positively associated with both innovative mindset and employability. Innovative mindset is also positively associated with employability and serves as a complementary partial mediator. The total effect of adaptive skills on employability is larger than that of digital literacy. After measurement purification, digital literacy is retained only in its productive dimension. These findings indicate that perceived work readiness is related not only to the possession of capabilities but also to orientation toward change. Practically, work readiness programs should move beyond technical training alone toward mindset development, adaptive experience, and work relevant digital literacy. Interpretation is limited by the cross sectional design, self report data, and incomplete discriminant validity among the perceptual constructs.]]>
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